Organic element for electroluminescent devices

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an OLED device comprising a light-emitting layer containing a light emitting bis(azinyl)methene boron complex compound comprising a complex system of at least five fused rings and bearing, on at least one ring carbon or nitrogen, a substituent sufficient to provide a wavelength of maximum emission of less than 520 nm as measured at a concentration of &lt;10 −3 M in ethyl acetate solvent.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to organic light emitting diode (OLED) electroluminescent (EL) device comprising a light-emitting layer containing a boron dopant compound containing a bis(azinyl)methene boron group.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While organic electroluminescent (EL) devices have been known for over two decades, their performance limitations have represented a barrier to many desirable applications. In simplest form, an organic EL device is comprised of an anode for hole injection, a cathode for electron injection, and an organic medium sandwiched between these electrodes to support charge recombination that yields emission of light. These devices are also commonly referred to as organic light-emitting diodes, or OLEDs. Representative of earlier organic EL devices are Gurnee et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,172,862, issued Mar. 9, 1965; Gurnee U.S. Pat. No. 3,173,050, issued Mar. 9, 1965; Dresner, “Double Injection Electroluminescence in Anthracene”, RCA Review, Vol. 30, pp. 322-334, 1969; and Dresner U.S. Pat. No. 3,710,167, issued Jan. 9, 1973. The organic layers in these devices, usually composed of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, were very thick (much greater than 1 μm). Consequently, operating voltages were very high, often >100V.

More recent organic EL devices include an organic EL element consisting of extremely thin layers (e.g. <1.0 μm) between the anode and the cathode. Herein, the organic EL element encompasses the layers between the anode and cathode electrodes. Reducing the thickness lowered the resistance of the organic layer and has enabled devices that operate at much lower voltage. In a basic two-layer EL device structure, described first in U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,429, one organic layer of the EL element adjacent to the anode is specifically chosen to transport holes, therefore, it is referred to as the hole-transporting layer, and the other organic layer is specifically chosen to transport electrons, referred to as the electron-transporting layer. The interface between the two layers provides an efficient site for the recombination of the injected hole/electron pair and the resultant electroluminescence.

There have also been proposed three-layer organic EL devices that contain an organic light-emitting layer (LEL) between the hole-transporting layer and electron-transporting layer, such as that disclosed by Tang et al [J. Applied Physics, Vol. 65, Pages 3610-3616, 1989]. The light-emitting layer commonly consists of a host material doped with a guest material or dopant, which results in an efficiency improvement and allows color tuning.

Since these early inventions, further improvements in device materials have resulted in improved performance in attributes such as color, stability, luminance efficiency and manufacturability, e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,569, U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,783, U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,450, U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,788, U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,823, U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,581, U.S. Pat. No. 5,928,802, U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,078, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,077, amongst others.

Notwithstanding these developments, there are continuing needs for organic EL device components, such as dopants, that will provide high luminance efficiencies combined with high color purity and long lifetimes.

A useful class of dopants is derived from the 5,6,5-tricyclic pyrromethene-BF2 complexes and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,823; JP 09 289,081A; JP 11 097,180A, and U.S. Patent Publication 2003-0198829-A1. These materials are characterized by typically narrow emission spectra, which may result in attractively high color purity. However, the green-emitting unsubstituted or alkyl substituted pyrromethene-BF2 complexes exhibit relatively low quantum efficiencies of electroluminescence. In order to achieve highly efficient OLEDs, one needs to use phenyl rings as substituents thereby extending the conjugated π-system. As a result, the emission wavelength typically becomes red-shifted yielding a reddish amber color, which is the shortest wavelength light that can be emitted by pyrromethene-BF2 complexes with good efficiency. In simple terms, luminance efficient green OLEDs do not appear to be conveniently obtained with pyrromethene BF₂ complexes used as dopants.

It is a problem to be solved to provide a light-emitting compound for a light-emitting layer of an OLED device that exhibits improved luminance efficiency and a desirable hue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an OLED device comprising a light-emitting layer containing a light emitting bis(azinyl)methene boron complex compound comprising a complex system of at least five fused rings and bearing, on at least one ring carbon or nitrogen, a substituent sufficient to provide a wavelength of maximum emission of less than 520 nm as measured at a concentration of <10⁻³M in ethyl acetate solvent. The invention also provides a lighting device containing the OLED, the complex compound, and a method of emitting thelight employing the device.

The invention provides an OLED device that exhibits improved luminance efficiency and a desirable hue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a typical OLED device in which this invention may be used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is generally as described above.

An OLED device of the invention is a multilayer electroluminescent device comprising a cathode, an anode, charge-injecting layers (if necessary), charge-transporting layers, and a light-emitting layer (LEL) comprising a particular light emitting bis(azinyl)methene boron complex compound. The term azine or azinyl refers to a six-membered aromatic ring system containing at least one nitrogen (an azine ring system) as defined by the Hantzsch-Widman stems [The Naming and Indexing of Chemical Substances for Chemical Abstracts—A Reprint of Index IV (Chemical Substance Index Names) from the Chemical Abstracts—1992 Index Guide; American Chemical Society: Columbus, Ohio, 1992; paragraph 146].

A class of dopants for OLED devices that has been found useful includes 6,6,6-tricyclic bis(azinyl)methane boron complex group, and usefully a bis(pyridinyl)methane boron complex group. Such tricyclic compounds, however, can be inefficient in their quantum efficiency of emission. The quantum efficiency can be improved in derivatives in which additional unsaturated rings are fused to the tricyclic nucleus. Furthermore, the additional rings can improve the sublimation properties of the dopant, which can improve the manufacturability of resulting OLED devices. However, a deleterious side-effect of the added fused rings is the shifting of the emission to longer wavelengths, creating dopants with emissions that are less desirable.

Suitably, the light-emitting layer of the device comprises a host and dopant where the dopant is present in an amount of up to 10 wt % of the host, more typically from 0.1-5.0 wt % of the host. The group is suitably a bis(azinyl)methene boron complex compound comprising a ring system of at least five fused rings, and usefully a bis(pyridinyl)methene boron complex compound comprising a ring system of at least five fused rings, and desirably a bis(pyridinyl)methene boron complex compound or a bis(quinoyl)methane boron complex compound comprising a ring system of five or six fused rings. The fused rings desirably include unsaturation, and the unsaturated fused rings conveniently form an aromatic ring system. Good results are obtained when one or more additional ring substituent groups are present, in particular those that will be further described.

The benefit imparted by the dopant does not appear to be host specific. Desirable hosts include those based on a chelated oxinoid compound or an anthracene compound. Particular examples of hosts are tris(8-quinolinolato)aluminum (III) and 2-tert-butyl-9,10-di-(2-naphthyl). Desirably a combination of host of the oxinoid and the anthracene type are use as co-hosts in an amount of at least 50 wt % or even at least 75 wt % of the layer.

Embodiments of the dopants useful in the invention provide an emitted light having a green hue or a blue-green hue. Substituents are selected to provide embodiments that exhibit a reduced loss of initial luminance compared to the device containing no bis(azinyl)methane boron complex compound.

Compounds useful in the invention are suitably represented by Formula (1):

-   -   wherein         -   A and A′ represent independent azine ring systems             corresponding to 6-membered aromatic ring systems containing             at least one nitrogen;         -   each X^(a) and X^(b) is an independently selected             substituent, two of which may join to form a fused ring to A             or A′ and which may include further fused ring substitution;         -   m and n are independently 0 to 4;         -   Y is H or a substituent;         -   Z^(a) and Z^(b) are independently selected substituents;         -   1, 2, 3, 4, 1′, 2′, 3′, and 4′ are independently selected as             either carbon or nitrogen atoms;         -   provided that the selection of each X^(a) and X^(b),             including further substitution, results in a fused ring             system of at least 5 fused rings; and         -   provided further that there is at least one substituent on             the fused ring system sufficient to provide a wavelength of             maximum emission of less than 520 nm at a concentration of             <10⁻³M in an aprotic solvent.

In the device, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1′, 2′, 3′, and 4′ are conveniently all carbon atoms. The device may desirably contain at least one or both of ring A or A′ that contains substituents joined to form a fused ring. In one useful embodiment, there is present at least one X^(a) or X^(b) group selected from the group consisting of halide and alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, and aryloxy groups. In another embodiment, there is present a Z^(a) and Z^(b) group are independently selected from the group consisting of fluorine and alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, alkylthio, arylthio, sulfamoyl (—NRSO₂R′), acetamido (—NRCOR′), diarylamino, and aryloxy groups. A desirable embodiment is where Z^(a) and Z^(b) are F. Y is suitably hydrogen or a substituent such as a cyano, trifluoromethyl, fluoro, alkylsulfonyl, nitro, or sulfonamido (—SO₂NRR′) group.

The emission wavelength of these compounds may be adjusted to some extent by appropriate substitution around the central bis(azinyl)methene boron group to meet a color aim, namely green that has a wavelength of maximum emission of less than 520 nm, conveniently less than 515 nm, and desirably less than 510 nm at a concentration of <10⁻³M, and conveniently <10⁻⁵M in an aprotic solvent such as ethyl acetate, toluene, hexanes, tetrahydrofuran, or dichloromethane.

One useful embodiment of a bis(azinyl)methane boron complex compound of Formula (1) is represented by Formula (2):

-   -   wherein         -   each Xa, Xb, Xc, and Xd is an independently selected             substituent, two of which may join to form a fused ring and             which may include further fused ring substitution;         -   m and n are independently 0 to 2;         -   o and p are independently 0 to 4;         -   Y is H or a substituent;         -   Za and Zb are independently selected substituents; and         -   provided further that there is at least one substituent on             the fused ring system sufficient to provide a wavelength of             maximum emission of less than 520 nm at a concentration of             <10⁻³M in an aprotic solvent.

Another useful embodiment of a bis(azinyl)methane boron complex compound of Formula (1) is represented by Formula (3):

-   -   wherein         -   each Xa, Xb, Xc, and Xd is an independently selected             substituent, two of which may join to form a fused ring and             which may include further fused ring substitution;         -   m and p are independently 0 to 2;         -   n and o are independently 0 to 4;         -   Y is H or a substituent;         -   Za and Zb are independently selected substituents; and         -   provided further that there is at least one substituent on             the fused ring system sufficient to provide a wavelength of             maximum emission of less than 520 nm at a concentration of             10⁻³M in an aprotic solvent.

The bis(azinyl)methene boron complex compound is usually doped into a host compound, which represents the light-emitting layer between the hole-transporting and electron-transporting layers. The host is chosen such that there is efficient energy transfer from the host to the bis(azinyl)methene boron compound. The bis(azinyl)methene boron complex emits from the excited state to afford a bright, highly-efficient, stable EL device.

The EL device of the invention is useful in any device where light emission is desired such as a lamp or a component in a static or motion imaging device, such as a television, cell phone, DVD player, or computer monitor.

Illustrative examples of bis(azinyl)methene boron complex compounds useful in the present invention are the following:

Embodiments of the invention provide not only improved luminance efficiency but a desirable green hue as evidenced by an emission curve having a maximum less than 520 nm as measured in a solution in EtOAc at a dilution less than 10⁻³M. Embodiments of the invention also provide improved operational stability as measured by emission loss when operated at 70° C.

Unless otherwise specifically stated, use of the term “substituted” or “substituent” means any group or atom other than hydrogen (what about deuterium). Additionally, when the term “group” is used, it means that when a substituent group contains a substitutable hydrogen, it is also intended to encompass not only the substituent's unsubstituted form, but also its form further substituted with any substituent group or groups as herein mentioned, so long as the substituent does not destroy properties necessary for device utility. Suitably, a substituent group may be halogen or may be bonded to the remainder of the molecule by an atom of carbon, silicon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur, selenium, or boron. The substituent may be, for example, halogen, such as chloro, bromo or fluoro; nitro; hydroxyl; cyano; carboxyl; or groups which may be further substituted, such as alkyl, including straight or branched chain or cyclic alkyl, such as methyl, trifluoromethyl, ethyl, t-butyl, 3-(2,4-di-t-pentylphenoxy) propyl, and tetradecyl; alkenyl, such as ethylene, 2-butene; alkoxy, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, 2-methoxyethoxy, sec-butoxy, hexyloxy, 2-ethylhexyloxy, tetradecyloxy, 2-(2,4-di-t-pentylphenoxy)ethoxy, and 2-dodecyloxyethoxy; aryl such as phenyl, 4-t-butylphenyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, naphthyl; aryloxy, such as phenoxy, 2-methylphenoxy, alpha- or beta-naphthyloxy, and 4-tolyloxy; carbonamido, such as acetamido, benzamido, butyramido, tetradecanamido, alpha-(2,4-di-t-pentyl-phenoxy)acetamido, alpha-(2,4-di-t-pentylphenoxy)butyramido, alpha-(3-pentadecylphenoxy)-hexanamido, alpha-(4-hydroxy-3-t-butylphenoxy)-tetradecanamido, 2-oxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-oxo-5-tetradecylpyrrolin-1-yl, N-methyltetradecanamido, N-succinimido, N-phthalimido, 2,5-dioxo-1-oxazolidinyl, 3-dodecyl-2,5-dioxo-1-imidazolyl, and N-acetyl-N-dodecylamino, ethoxycarbonylamino, phenoxycarbonylamino, benzyloxycarbonylamino, hexadecyloxycarbonylamino, 2,4-di-t-butylphenoxycarbonylamino, phenylcarbonylamino, 2,5-(di-t-pentylphenyl)carbonylamino, p-dodecyl-phenylcarbonylamino, p-tolylcarbonylamino, N-methylureido, N,N-dimethylureido, N-methyl-N-dodecylureido, N-hexadecylureido, N,N-dioctadecylureido, N,N-dioctyl-N′-ethylureido, N-phenylureido, N,N-diphenylureido, N-phenyl-N-p-tolylureido, N-(m-hexadecylphenyl)ureido, N,N-(2,5-di-t-pentylphenyl)-N′-ethylureido, and t-butylcarbonamido; sulfonamido, such as methylsulfonamido, benzenesulfonamido, p-tolylsulfonamido, p-dodecylbenzenesulfonamido, N-methyltetradecylsulfonamido, N,N-dipropyl-sulfamoylamino, and hexadecylsulfonamido; sulfamoyl, such as N-methylsulfamoyl, N-ethylsulfamoyl, N,N-dipropylsulfamoyl, N-hexadecylsulfamoyl, N,N-dimethylsulfamoyl, N-[3-(dodecyloxy)propyl]sulfamoyl, N-[4-(2,4-di-t-pentylphenoxy)butyl]sulfamoyl, N-methyl-N-tetradecylsulfamoyl, and N-dodecylsulfamoyl; carbamoyl, such as N-methylcarbamoyl, N,N-dibutylcarbamoyl, N-octadecylcarbamoyl, N-[4-(2,4-di-t-pentylphenoxy)butyl]carbamoyl, N-methyl-N-tetradecylcarbamoyl, and N,N-dioctylcarbamoyl; acyl, such as acetyl, (2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)acetyl, phenoxycarbonyl, p-dodecyloxyphenoxycarbonyl methoxycarbonyl, butoxycarbonyl, tetradecyloxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, 3-pentadecyloxycarbonyl, and dodecyloxycarbonyl; sulfonyl, such as methoxysulfonyl, octyloxysulfonyl, tetradecyloxysulfonyl, 2-ethylhexyloxysulfonyl, phenoxysulfonyl, 2,4-di-t-pentylphenoxysulfonyl, methylsulfonyl, octylsulfonyl, 2-ethylhexylsulfonyl, dodecylsulfonyl, hexadecylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, 4-nonylphenylsulfonyl, and p-tolylsulfonyl; sulfonyloxy, such as dodecylsulfonyloxy, and hexadecylsulfonyloxy; sulfinyl, such as methylsulfinyl, octylsulfinyl, 2-ethylhexylsulfinyl, dodecylsulfinyl, hexadecylsulfinyl, phenylsulfinyl, 4-nonylphenylsulfinyl, and p-tolylsulfinyl; thio, such as ethylthio, octylthio, benzylthio, tetradecylthio, 2-(2,4-di-t-pentylphenoxy)ethylthio, phenylthio, 2-butoxy-5-t-octylphenylthio, and p-tolylthio; acyloxy, such as acetyloxy, benzoyloxy, octadecanoyloxy, p-dodecylamidobenzoyloxy, N-phenylcarbamoyloxy, N-ethylcarbamoyloxy, and cyclohexylcarbonyloxy; amine, such as phenylanilino, 2-chloroanilino, diethylamine, dodecylamine; imino, such as 1 (N-phenylimido)ethyl, N-succinimido or 3-benzylhydantoinyl; phosphate, such as dimethylphosphate and ethylbutylphosphate; phosphite, such as diethyl and dihexylphosphite; a heterocyclic group, a heterocyclic oxy group or a heterocyclic thio group, each of which may be substituted and which contain a 3 to 7 membered heterocyclic ring composed of carbon atoms and at least one hetero atom selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorous, or boron. such as 2-furyl, 2-thienyl, 2-benzimidazolyloxy or 2-benzothiazolyl; quaternary ammonium, such as triethylammonium; quaternary phosphonium, such as triphenylphosphonium; and silyloxy, such as trimethylsilyloxy.

If desired, the substituents may themselves be further substituted one or more times with the described substituent groups. The particular substituents used may be selected by those skilled in the art to attain the desired desirable properties for a specific application and can include, for example, electron-withdrawing groups, electron-donating groups, and steric groups. When a molecule may have two or more substituents, the substituents may be joined together to form a ring such as a fused ring unless otherwise provided. Generally, the above groups and substituents thereof may include those having up to 48 carbon atoms, typically 1 to 36 carbon atoms and usually less than 24 carbon atoms, but greater numbers are possible depending on the particular substituents selected.

General Device Architecture

The present invention can be employed in most OLED device configurations and light emitting devices including the OLED devices described herein. These include very simple structures comprising a single anode and cathode to more complex devices, such as passive matrix displays comprised of orthogonal arrays of anodes and cathodes to form pixels, and active-matrix displays where each pixel is controlled independently, for example, with a thin film transistor (TFT).

There are numerous configurations of the organic layers wherein the present invention can be successfully practiced. Essential requirements are a cathode, an anode, an HTL and an LEL. A more typical structure of an OLED device useful in this invention is shown in FIG. 1 and contains a substrate 101, an anode 103, an optional hole-injecting layer 105, a hole-transporting layer 107, a light-emitting layer 109, an electron-transporting layer 111, and a cathode 113. The OLED device described herein can be subjected to an applied voltage via anode 103 and cathode 113 so that light-emitting layer 109 emits light. These layers are described in detail below. Note that the substrate may alternatively be located adjacent to the cathode, or the substrate may actually constitute the anode or cathode. Also, the total combined thickness of the organic layers is preferably less than 500 nm.

Substrate

The substrate 101 can either be light transmissive or opaque, depending on the intended direction of light emission. The light transmissive property is desirable for viewing the EL emission through the substrate. Transparent glass or organic material are commonly employed in such cases. For applications where the EL emission is viewed through the top electrode, the transmissive characteristic of the bottom support is immaterial, and therefore can be light transmissive, light absorbing or light reflective. Substrates for use in this case include, but are not limited to, glass, plastic, semiconductor materials, ceramics, and circuit board materials. Of course it is necessary to provide in these device configurations a light-transparent top electrode.

Anode

The conductive anode layer 103 is commonly formed over the substrate and, when EL emission is viewed through the anode, should be transparent or substantially transparent to the emission of interest. Common transparent anode materials used in this invention are indium-tin oxide (ITO) and tin oxide, but other metal oxides can work including, but not limited to, aluminum- or indium-doped zinc oxide (IZO), magnesium-indium oxide, and nickel-tungsten oxide. In addition to these oxides, metal nitrides, such as gallium nitride, and metal selenides, such as zinc selenide, and metal sulfides, such as zinc sulfide, can be used in layer 103. For applications where EL emission is viewed through the top electrode, the transmissive characteristics of layer 103 are immaterial and any conductive material can be used, transparent, opaque or reflective. Example conductors for this application include, but are not limited to, gold, iridium, molybdenum, palladium, and platinum. Typical anode materials, transmissive or otherwise, have a work function of 4.1 eV or greater. Desired anode materials are commonly deposited by any suitable means such as evaporation, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, or electrochemical means. Anodes can be patterned using well-known photolithographic processes.

Hole-Injecting Layer (HIL)

While not always necessary, it is often useful that a hole-injecting layer 105 be provided between anode 103 and hole-transporting layer 107. The hole-injecting material can serve to improve the film formation property of subsequent organic layers and to facilitate injection of holes into the hole-transporting layer. Suitable materials for use in the hole-injecting layer include, but are not limited to, porphyrinic compounds such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,432, and plasma-deposited fluorocarbon polymers such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,075. Alternative hole-injecting materials reportedly useful in organic EL devices are described in EP 0 891 121 A1 and EP 1 029 909 A1.

Hole-Transporting Layer (HTL)

The hole-transporting layer 107 of the organic EL device contains at least one hole-transporting compound such as an aromatic tertiary amine, where the latter is understood to be a compound containing at least one trivalent nitrogen atom that is bonded only to carbon atoms, at least one of which is a member of an aromatic ring. In one form the aromatic tertiary amine can be an arylamine, such as a monoarylamine, diarylamine, triarylamine, or a polymeric arylamine group. Exemplary monomeric triarylamines are illustrated by Klupfel et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,180,730. Other suitable triarylamines substituted with one or more vinyl radicals and/or comprising at least one active hydrogen containing group are disclosed by Brantley et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,450 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,520.

A more preferred class of aromatic tertiary amines are those which include at least two aromatic tertiary amine moieties as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,432 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,569. Such compounds include those represented by structural formula (A).

wherein Q₁ and Q₂ are independently selected aromatic tertiary amine moieties and G is a linking group such as an arylene, cycloalkylene, or alkylene group of a carbon to carbon bond. In one embodiment, at least one of Q₁ or Q₂ contains a polycyclic fused ring group, e.g., a naphthalene. When G is an aryl group, it is conveniently a phenylene, biphenylene, or naphthalene group.

A useful class of triarylamine groups satisfying structural formula (A) and containing two triarylamine groups is represented by structural formula (B):

-   -   where         -   R₁ and R₂ each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an             aryl group, or an alkyl group or R₁ and R₂ together             represent the atoms completing a cycloalkyl group; and         -   R₃ and R₄ each independently represents an aryl group, which             is in turn substituted with a diaryl substituted amino             group, as indicated by structural formula (C):     -   wherein R₅ and R₆ are independently selected aryl groups. In one         embodiment, at least one of R₅ or R₆ contains a polycyclic fused         ring group, e.g., a naphthalene.

Another class of aromatic tertiary amine groups are the tetraaryldiamines. Desirable tetraaryldiamines groups include two diarylamino groups, such as indicated by formula (C), linked through an arylene group. Useful tetraaryldiamines include those represented by formula (D).

-   -   wherein         -   each Are is an independently selected arylene group, such as             a phenylene or anthracene group,         -   n is an integer of from 1 to 4, and         -   Ar, R₇, R₈, and R₉ are independently selected aryl groups.

In a typical embodiment, at least one of Ar, R₇, R₈, and R₉ is a polycyclic fused ring group, e.g., a naphthalene.

The various alkyl, alkylene, aryl, and arylene groups of the foregoing structural formulae (A), (B), (C), (D), can each in turn be substituted. Typical substituents include alkyl groups, alkoxy groups, aryl groups, aryloxy groups, and halogen such as fluoride, chloride, and bromide. The various alkyl and alkylene groups typically contain from about 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The cycloalkyl moieties can contain from 3 to about 10 carbon atoms, but typically contain five, six, or seven ring carbon atoms—e.g., cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and cycloheptyl ring structures. The aryl and arylene groups are usually phenyl and phenylene moieties.

The hole-transporting layer can be formed of a single or a mixture of aromatic tertiary amine compounds. Specifically, one may employ a triarylamine, such as a triarylamine satisfying the formula (B), in combination with a tetraaryldiamine, such as indicated by formula (D). When a triarylamine is employed in combination with a tetraaryldiamine, the latter is positioned as a layer interposed between the triarylamine and the electron injecting and transporting layer. Illustrative of useful aromatic tertiary amines are the following:

-   1,1-Bis(4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl)cyclohexane -   1,1-Bis(4-di-p-tolylaminophenyl)-4-phenylcyclohexane -   4,4′-Bis(diphenylamino)quadriphenyl -   Bis(4-dimethylamino-2-methylphenyl)-phenylmethane -   N,N,N-Tri(p-tolyl)amine -   4-(di-p-tolylamino)-4′-[4(di-p-tolylamino)-styryl]stilbene -   N,N,N′,N′-Tetra-p-tolyl-4-4′-diaminobiphenyl -   N,N,N′,N′-Tetraphenyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl -   N,N,N′,N′-tetra-1-naphthyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl -   N,N,N′,N′-tetra-2-naphthyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl -   N-Phenylcarbazole -   4,4′-Bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl -   4,4′-Bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-(2-naphthyl)amino]biphenyl -   4,4″-Bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]p-terphenyl -   4,4′-Bis[N-(2-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl -   4,4′-Bis[N-(3-acenaphthenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl -   1,5-Bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]naphthalene -   4,4′-Bis[N-(9-anthryl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl -   4,4″-Bis[N-(1-anthryl)-N-phenylamino]-p-terphenyl -   4,4′-Bis[N-(2-phenanthryl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl -   4,4′-Bis[N-(8-fluoranthenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl -   4,4′-Bis[N-(2-pyrenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl -   4,4′-Bis[N-(2-naphthacenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl -   4,4′-Bis[N-(2-perylenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl -   4,4′-Bis[N-(1-coronenyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl -   2,6-Bis(di-p-tolylamino)naphthalene -   2,6-Bis[di-(1-naphthyl)amino]naphthalene -   2,6-Bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-(2-naphthyl)amino]naphthalene -   N,N,N′,N′-Tetra(2-naphthyl)-4,4″-diamino-p-terphenyl -   4,4′-Bis {N-phenyl-N-[4-(1-naphthyl)-phenyl]amino}biphenyl -   4,4′-Bis[N-phenyl-N-(2-pyrenyl)amino]biphenyl -   2,6-Bis[N,N-di(2-naphthyl)amine]fluorine -   1,5-Bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]naphthalene

Another class of useful hole-transporting materials includes polycyclic aromatic compounds as described in EP 1 009 041. In addition, polymeric hole-transporting materials can be used such as poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK), polythiophenes, polypyrrole, polyaniline, and copolymers such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(4-styrenesulfonate) also called PEDOT/PSS.

Light-Emitting Layer (LEL)

As more fully described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,769,292 and 5,935,721, the light-emitting layer (LEL) 109 of the organic EL element comprises a luminescent or fluorescent material where electroluminescence is produced as a result of electron-hole pair recombination in this region. The light-emitting layer can be comprised of a single material, but more commonly consists of a host material doped with a guest compound or compounds where light emission comes primarily from the dopant and can be of any color. The host materials in the light-emitting layer can be an electron-transporting material, as defined below, a hole-transporting material, as defined above, or another material or combination of materials that support hole-electron recombination. The dopant is usually chosen from highly fluorescent dyes, but phosphorescent compounds, e.g., transition metal complexes as described in WO 98/55561, WO 00/18851, WO 00/57676, and WO 00/70655 are also useful. Dopants are typically coated as 0.01 to 10% by weight into the host material.

An important relationship for choosing a dye as a dopant is a comparison of the bandgap potential which is defined as the energy difference between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of the molecule. For efficient energy transfer from the host to the dopant molecule, a necessary condition is that the band gap of the dopant is smaller than that of the host material.

Host and emitting molecules known to be of use include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,292, U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,671, U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,006, U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,629, U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,709, U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,922, U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,788, U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,948, U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,823, U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,999, U.S. Pat. No. 5,928,802, U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,720, U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,721, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,078.

Metal complexes of 8-hydroxyquinoline and similar derivatives (Formula E) constitute one class of useful host compounds capable of supporting electroluminescence, and are particularly suitable for light emission of wavelengths longer than 500 nm, e.g., green, yellow, orange, and red.

-   -   wherein         -   M represents a metal;         -   n is an integer of from 1 to 4; and         -   Z independently in each occurrence represents the atoms             completing a nucleus having at least two fused aromatic             rings.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the metal can be monovalent, divalent, trivalent, or tetravalent metal. The metal can, for example, be an alkali metal, such as lithium, sodium, or potassium; an alkaline earth metal, such as magnesium or calcium; an earth metal, such aluminum or gallium, or a transition metal such as zinc or zirconium. Generally any monovalent, divalent, trivalent, or tetravalent metal known to be a useful chelating metal can be employed.

Z completes a heterocyclic nucleus containing at least two fused aromatic rings, at least one of which is an azole or azine ring. Additional rings, including both aliphatic and aromatic rings, can be fused with the two required rings, if required. To avoid adding molecular bulk without improving on function the number of ring atoms is usually maintained at 18 or less.

Illustrative of useful chelated oxinoid compounds are the following:

-   -   CO-1: Aluminum trisoxine [alias,         tris(8-quinolinolato)aluminum(III)]     -   CO-2: Magnesium bisoxine [alias,         bis(8-quinolinolato)magnesium(II)]     -   CO-3: Bis[benzo {f}-8-quinolinolato]zinc (II)     -   CO-4:         Bis(2-methyl-8-quinolinolato)aluminum(III)-μ-oxo-bis(2-methyl-8-quinolinolato)         aluminum(III)     -   CO-5: Indium trisoxine [alias, tris(8-quinolinolato)indium]     -   CO-6: Aluminum tris(5-methyloxine) [alias,         tris(5-methyl-8-quinolinolato) aluminum(III)]     -   CO-7: Lithium oxine [alias, (8-quinolinolato)lithium(I)]     -   CO-8: Gallium oxine [alias, tris(8-quinolinolato)gallium(III)]     -   CO-9: Zirconium oxine [alias,         tetra(8-quinolinolato)zirconium(IV)]     -   CO-10: Bis(2-methyl-8-quinolinato)-4-phenylphenolatoaluminum         (III)

Derivatives of 9,10-di-(2-naphthyl)anthracene (Formula F) constitute one class of useful hosts capable of supporting electroluminescence, and are particularly suitable for light emission of wavelengths longer than 400 nm, e.g., blue, green, yellow, orange or red.

-   -   wherein: R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, and R⁶ represent hydrogen or one or         more substituents selected from the following groups:         -   Group 1: hydrogen, alkyl and alkoxy groups typically having             from 1 to 24 carbon atoms;         -   Group 2: a ring group, typically having from 6 to 20 carbon             atoms;         -   Group 3: the atoms necessary to complete a carbocyclic fused             ring group such as naphthyl, anthracenyl, pyrenyl, and             perylenyl groups, typically having from 6 to 30 carbon             atoms;         -   Group 4: the atoms necessary to complete a heterocyclic             fused ring group such as furyl, thienyl, pyridyl, and             quinolinyl groups, typically having from 5 to 24 carbon             atoms;         -   Group 5: an alkoxylamino, alkylamino, and arylamino group             typically having from 1 to 24 carbon atoms; and         -   Group 6: fluorine, chlorine, bromine and cyano radicals.

Illustrative examples include 9,10-di-(2-naphthyl)anthracene and 2-t-butyl-9,10-di-(2-naphthyl)anthracene. Other anthracene derivatives can be useful as a host in the LEL, including derivatives of 9,10-bis[4-(2,2-diphenylethenyl)phenyl]anthracene, and phenylanthracene derivatives as described in EP 681,019.

Benzazole derivatives (Formula G) constitute another class of useful hosts capable of supporting electroluminescence, and are particularly suitable for light emission of wavelengths longer than 400 nm, e.g., blue, green, yellow, orange or red.

-   -   where:         -   n is an integer of 3 to 8;         -   Z is −O, —NR or —S where R is H or a substituent; and         -   R′ represents one or more optional substituents where R and             each R′ are H or alkyl groups such as propyl, t-butyl, and             heptyl groups typically having from 1 to 24 carbon atoms;             carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring groups such as phenyl and             naphthyl, furyl, thienyl, pyridyl, and quinolinyl groups and             atoms necessary to complete a fused aromatic ring group             typically having from 5 to 20 carbon atoms; and halo such as             chloro, and fluoro;         -   L is a linkage unit usually comprising an alkyl or aryl             group which conjugately or unconjugately connects the             multiple benzazoles together.

An example of a useful benzazole is 2,2′, 2″-(1,3,5-phenylene)tris[1-phenyl-1H-benzimidazole].

Distyrylarylene derivatives as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,029 are also useful host materials in the LEL.

Desirable fluorescent dopants include groups derived from fused ring, heterocyclic and other compounds such as anthracene, tetracene, xanthene, perylene, rubrene, coumarin, rhodamine, quinacridone, dicyanomethylenepyran, thiopyran, polymethine, pyrilium thiapyrilium, and carbostyryl compounds. Illustrative examples of useful dopants include, but are not limited to, the following:

X R1 R2 L9 O H H L10 O H Methyl L11 O Methyl H L12 O Methyl Methyl L13 O H t-butyl L14 O t-butyl H L15 O t-butyl t-butyl L16 S H H L17 S H Methyl L18 S Methyl H L19 S Methyl Methyl L20 S H t-butyl L21 S t-butyl H L22 S t-butyl t-butyl

X R1 R2 L23 O H H L24 O H Methyl L25 O Methyl H L26 O Methyl methyl L27 O H t-butyl L28 O t-butyl H L29 O t-butyl t-butyl L30 S H H L31 S H Methyl L32 S Methyl H L33 S Methyl Methyl L34 S H t-butyl L35 S t-butyl H L36 S t-butyl t-butyl

R L37 phenyl L38 methyl L39 t-butyl L40 mesityl

R L41 phenyl L42 meethyl L43 t-butyl L44 mesityl

Electron-Transporting Layer (ETL)

Preferred thin film-forming materials for use in forming the electron-transporting layer 111 of the organic EL devices of this invention are metal chelated oxinoid compounds, including chelates of oxine itself (also commonly referred to as 8-quinolinol or 8-hydroxyquinoline). Such compounds help to inject and transport electrons and exhibit both high levels of performance and are readily fabricated in the form of thin films. Exemplary of contemplated oxinoid compounds are those satisfying structural formula (E), previously described.

Other electron-transporting materials include various butadiene derivatives as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,429 and various heterocyclic optical brighteners as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,507. Benzazoles satisfying structural formula (G) are also useful electron transporting materials.

In some instances, layers 109 and 111 can optionally be collapsed into a single layer that serves the function of supporting both light emission and electron transportation.

Cathode

When light emission is through the anode, the cathode layer 113 used in this invention can be comprised of nearly any conductive material. Desirable materials have good film-forming properties to ensure good contact with the underlying organic layer, promote electron injection at low voltage, and have good stability. Useful cathode materials often contain a low work function metal (<4.0 eV) or metal alloy. One preferred cathode material is comprised of a Mg:Ag alloy wherein the percentage of silver is in the range of 1 to 20%, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,221. Another suitable class of cathode materials includes bilayers comprised of a thin layer of a low work function metal or metal salt capped with a thicker layer of conductive metal. One such cathode is comprised of a thin layer of LiF followed by a thicker layer of A1 as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,572. Other useful cathode materials include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,861, U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,862, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,763.

When light emission is viewed through the cathode, the cathode must be transparent or nearly transparent. For such applications, metals must be thin or one must use transparent conductive oxides, or a combination of these materials. Optically transparent cathodes have been described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,623. Cathode materials can be deposited by evaporation, sputtering, or chemical vapor deposition. When needed, patterning can be achieved through many well known methods including, but not limited to, through-mask deposition, integral shadow masking as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,380 and EP 0 732 868, laser ablation, and selective chemical vapor deposition.

Deposition of Organic Layers

The organic materials mentioned above are suitably deposited through sublimation, but can be deposited from a solvent with an optional binder to improve film formation. If the material is a polymer, solvent deposition is usually preferred. The material to be deposited by sublimation can be vaporized from a sublimator “boat” often comprised of a tantalum material, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,529, or can be first coated onto a donor sheet and then sublimed in closer proximity to the substrate. Layers with a mixture of materials can utilize separate sublimator boats or the materials can be pre-mixed and coated from a single boat or donor sheet. Patterned deposition can be achieved using shadow masks, integral shadow masks (U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,870), spatially-defined thermal dye transfer from a donor sheet (U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,709 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,357) and inkjet method (U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,357).

Encapsulation

Most OLED devices are sensitive to moisture and/or oxygen so they are commonly sealed in an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen or argon, along with a desiccant such as alumina, bauxite, calcium sulfate, clays, silica gel, zeolites, alkaline metal oxides, alkaline earth metal oxides, sulfates, or metal halides and perchlorates. Methods for encapsulation and desiccation include, but are not limited to, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,890.

The invention and its advantages can be better appreciated by the following examples.

EXAMPLES

Maximum Emission and Luminance Efficiency

Emission spectra were obtained for a series of the above inventive examples and the following comparative examples. Example # Rings Structure Comp-1 3

Comp-2 4

Comp-3 5

The emission spectra and quantum yields were obtained at room temperature in ethyl acetate solution at concentrations of 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻⁶M and expressed as quanta per unit time per unit wavelength interval against wavelength. A fluorescence procedure is well known to those skilled in the art [see, for example, C. A. Parker and W. T. Rees, Analyst, 85, 587 (1960)]. The maximum of emission spectra is defined as the wavelength corresponding to the highest point of such spectrum. The results are shown in the following table. TABLE 1 SOLUTION (ETOAC) DATA Example Type E max (soln.) Quantum Yield. Comp-1 Comparative 492 nm 0.15 Comp-2 Comparative 498 nm 0.63 Comp-3 Comparative 520 nm 0.96 Inv-1 Inventive 490 nm 0.72 Inv-2 Inventive 500 nm 0.67 Inv-3 Inventive 506 nm 0.77 Inv-4 Inventive 476 nm 0.86 Inv-5 Inventive 494 nm 1 Inv-6 Inventive 496 nm 0.74

The above table shows that comparative compounds with fewer fused rings (Comp-1 and Comp-2) have desirable emission wavelength, but have lower efficiency as shown by the quantum yield. The use of five fused rings (Comp-3) has a high efficiency, but the emission wavelength of 520 nm is less desirable. However, the compounds with five fused rings and substituent groups in accordance with this invention (Inv-1 to Inv-6) have high efficiencies and a desirable emission wavelength.

Preparation of Bis(2-guinolinyl)acetonitrile:

To a solution of 2-quinolylacetonitrile (14.5 g, 86.2 mmol) in toluene (200 mL) was added slowly NaH (6.9 g of 60% oil dispersion, 172 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 15 min at which point H₂ evolution was no longer evident. A solution of 2-chloroquinoline (14.1 g, 86.2 mmol) in toluene (150 mL) was added to the reaction flask, and the reaction mixture was then heated at reflux for 18 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to ambient temperature, diluted with THF, and quenched with H₂O. The organic solution was washed with 1N HCl (200 mL), saturated aqueous solution of NaHCO₃, and brine. An orange solid precipitated from the organic layer and was isolated via vacuum filtration. The mother liquor was dried over MgSO₄ and the volatile components were removed with a rotary evaporator. The resulting solid was combined with the orange powder isolated via filtration. The solid was washed with a mixture of ether and heptane to afford 14.7 g (57.6%) of product. Results of ¹H NMR spectroscopy and electrospray mass spectroscopy are consistent with the product.

Preparation of Difluoro[1,2-dihydro-2[(2-guinolinyl-κN)cyanomethine]guinolinato-κN]boron (Inv-1)

A mixture of bis(2-quinolinyl)acetonitrile, diisopropylethylamine, BF₃-etherate, and acetonitrile were placed in a sealed pressure bottle and heated in a 120° C. oil bath for 8 h. Once cooled to ambient temperature the solid was collected and washed with cold acetonitrile to provide product in 77% yield. Results of ¹H NMR spectroscopic analysis is consistent with the product.

Other materials of the invention were prepared in an analogous fashion.

Example 2 EL Device Fabrication—Inventive Example

An EL device (Sample 1) satisfying the requirements of the invention was constructed in the following manner:

-   -   1. A glass substrate coated with an 85 nm layer of indium-tin         oxide (ITO) as the anode was sequentially ultrasonicated in a         commercial detergent, rinsed in deionized water, degreased in         toluene vapor and exposed to oxygen plasma for about 1 min.     -   2. Over the ITO was deposited a 1 nm fluorocarbon (CFx)         hole-injecting layer (HIL) by plasma-assisted deposition of         CHF₃.     -   3. A hole-transporting layer (HTL)of         N,N′-di-1-naphthyl-N,N′-diphenyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl (NPB)         having a thickness of 75 nm was then evaporated from a tantalum         boat.     -   4. A 25 nm light-emitting layer (LEL) of         2-tert-butyl-9,10-di-(2-naphthyl)anthracene (TBADN) and Inv-1         (0.7% wt %) were then deposited onto the hole-transporting         layer. These materials were also evaporated from tantalum boats.     -   5. A 35 nm electron-transporting layer (ETL) of         tris(8quinolinolato)aluminum (III) (AlQ₃) was then deposited         onto the light-emitting layer. This material was also evaporated         from a tantalum boat.     -   6. On top of the AlQ₃ layer was deposited a 220 nm cathode         formed of a 10:1 volume ratio of Mg and Ag.

The above sequence completed the deposition of the EL device. The device was then hermetically packaged in a dry glove box for protection against ambient environment.

Samples 2, 3, 4, and 5 were EL devices incorporating Inv-2, Inv-5, Inv-6 or Comp-3 fabricated in an identical manner as the example incorporating Inv-1 but at levels indicated in the table. The cells thus formed were tested for efficiency (in the form of luminance yield), and the results are listed in Table 2.

The stability of the devices was tested by operating the devices at 20 mA/cm² in an oven at 70° C. The stability, as a percent loss of normalized luminance after 220 h, is reported in the table. TABLE 2 EVALUATION RESULTS FOR EL DEVICES. % loss after 202 h Level Efficiency Emission @ 70° C., Sample Host Dopant (%) (cd/A)¹ Max.¹ 20 mA/cm² Type 1 TBADN Inv-1 0.7 6.36 504 nm 23.5% Invention 2 TBADN Inv-2 0.4 5.74 512 nm 14.7% Invention 3 TBADN Inv-5 0.7 6.08 508 nm 21.3% Invention 4 TBADN Inv-6 0.4 6.53 504 nm 23.8% Invention 5 TBADN Comp-3 0.5 9.10 532 nm 29.3% Comparison ¹Data reported at 20 mA/cm².

As can be seen from Table 2, all tested EL devices incorporating the INV dopants demonstrated superior color relative to the comparative device containing Comp-3. These doped EL devices exhibit green electroluminescence with Emission_(max) ranging from 504-512 nm. Also, the stability of the tested embodiments was superior for the invention.

Example 3 EL Device Fabrication—Inventive Example

An EL device (Sample 6) satisfying the requirements of the invention was constructed in the following manner:

-   -   1. A glass substrate coated with an 85 nm layer of indium-tin         oxide (ITO) as the anode was sequentially ultrasonicated in a         commercial detergent, rinsed in deionized water, degreased in         toluene vapor and exposed to oxygen plasma for about 1 min.     -   2. Over the ITO was deposited a 1 nm fluorocarbon (CFx) HIL by         plasma-assisted deposition of CHF₃.     -   3. A HTL of         N,N′-di-1-naphthalenyl-N,N′-diphenyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl (NPB)         having a thickness of 75 nm was then evaporated from a tantalum         boat.     -   4. A 37.5 nm LEL of tris(8quinolinolato)aluminum (III) (AlQ₃)         and Inv-1 (0.7 wt %) were then deposited onto the         hole-transporting layer. These materials were also evaporated         from tantalum boats.     -   5. A 37.5 nm ETL of tris(8quinolinolato)aluminum (III) (AlQ₃)         was then deposited onto the light-emitting layer. This material         was also evaporated from a tantalum boat.     -   6. On top of the AlQ₃ layer was deposited a 220 nm cathode         formed of a 10:1 volume ratio of Mg and Ag.

The above sequence completed the deposition of the EL device. The device was then hermetically packaged in a dry glove box for protection against ambient environment.

Samples 7, 8, 9, and 10 were EL devices incorporating Inv-2, Inv-5, Inv-6 or Comp-3 fabricated in an identical manner as the example incorporating Inv-1 but at levels indicated in the table. The cells thus formed were tested for efficiency (in the form of luminance yield), and the results are listed in Table 3. TABLE 3 EVALUATION RESULTS FOR EL DEVICES. % loss after 202 h Efficiency Emission @ 70° C., Sample Host Dopant Level (%) (cd/A)¹ Max.¹ 20 mA/cm² Type 6 AlQ₃ Inv-1 0.7 7.03 504 nm 37.8% Invention 7 AlQ₃ Inv-2 0.7 7.17 512 nm 42.9% Invention 8 AlQ₃ Inv-5 0.4 8.41 508 nm 32.2% Invention 9 AlQ₃ Inv-6 0.4 6.92 512 nm 25.6% Invention 10  AlQ₃ Comp-3 0.7 10.39 540 nm 41.5% Comparison ¹Data reported at 20 mA/cm².

As can be seen from Table 3, the tested EL device incorporating the INV dopants in an AlQ₃ host demonstrated superior color relative to the comparative device. The comparative device exhibited a yellow-green emission (emission maximum of 540 nm) as opposed to the more desirable green emission of the invention (504-512 nm).

Example 4 EL Device Fabrication with Mixed Host—Inventive Example

An EL device (Sample 11) satisfying the requirements of the invention was constructed in the following manner:

-   -   1. A glass substrate coated with an 85 nm layer of indium-tin         oxide (ITO) as the anode was sequentially ultrasonicated in a         commercial detergent, rinsed in deionized water, degreased in         toluene vapor and exposed to oxygen plasma for about 1 min.     -   2. Over the ITO was deposited a 1 nm fluorocarbon (CFx) HIL by         plasma-assisted deposition of CHF₃.     -   3. A HTL of         N,N′-di-1-naphthalenyl-N,N′-diphenyl-4,4′-diaminobiphenyl (NPB)         having a thickness of 75 nm was then evaporated from a tantalum         boat.     -   4. A 37.5 nm LEL of tris(8quinolinolato)aluminum (III) (AlQ₃)         and Inv-2 (0.5 wt %) were then deposited onto the         hole-transporting layer. These materials were also evaporated         from tantalum boats.     -   5. A 37.5 nm ETL of tris(8quinolinolato)aluminum (III) (AlQ₃)         was then deposited onto the light-emitting layer. This material         was also evaporated from a tantalum boat.     -   6. On top of the AlQ₃ layer was deposited a 220 nm cathode         formed of a 10:1 volume ratio of Mg and Ag.

The above sequence completed the deposition of the EL device. The device was then hermetically packaged in a dry glove box for protection against ambient environment.

Samples 12, 13, and 14 were EL devices fabricated in an identical manner as the example, but incorporating an additional co-host material, tBADN, in the emissive layer. This was effected by co-evaporating the tBADN from another tantalum boat along with the ALQ and Inv-2. The total thickness of this emissive layer was nominally maintained at 37.5 nm. The approximate percent levels of the tBADN relative to the ALQ are given in Table 4. Samples 15, 16, 17, and 18 were fabricated in an identical manner as the example incorporating Inv-2 but using Inv-5. Samples 19, 20, 21, and 22 were fabricated in an identical manner as the example incorporating Inv-2 but using Inv-6. The cells thus formed were tested for efficiency (in the form of luminance yield) and the results are listed in Table 4. The stability of the devices was tested by operating the devices at 20 mA/cm² in an oven at 70° C. The stability, as a percent loss of normalized luminance after 220 h, is reported in the table. TABLE 4 EVALUATION RESULTS FOR EL DEVICES WITH MIXED HOSTS. % loss after % tBADN Dopant Emission 220 h @ 70° C., Sample in ALQ Dopant Level (%) Efficiency (cd/A)¹ Max.¹ 20 mA/cm² 11 0% Inv-2 0.5 6.71 516 nm 35.5% 12 50% Inv-2 0.5 5.95 512 nm 25.8% 13 75% Inv-2 0.5 6.16 512 nm 23.5% 14 100% Inv-2 0.5 6.52 512 nm 28.8% 15 0% Inv-5 0.5 8.06 508 nm 35.5% 16 50% Inv-5 0.5 6.55 508 nm 16.9% 17 75% Inv-5 0.5 8.69 508 nm 16.9% 18 100% Inv-5 0.5 6.36 508 nm 12.0% 19 0% Inv-6 0.5 6.68 512 nm 29.1% 20 50% Inv-6 0.5 6.31 508 nm 17.2% 21 75% Inv-6 0.5 6.98 508 nm 14.2% 22 100% Inv-6 0.5 6.10 508 nm 10.9% ¹Data reported at 20 mA/cm².

As can be seen from Table 4, the tested EL device incorporating the mixed emissive layer (TBADN and AlQ₃) host demonstrated superior stability relative to ALQ host alone. Also the preferred level of host for best stability and luminance can be observed to be greater than 50% TBADN, but less than 100% TABDN.

The entire contents of the patents and other publications referred to in this specification are incorporated herein by reference. The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Parts List

-   101 Substrate -   103 Anode -   105 Hole-Injecting layer (HIL) -   107 Hole-Transporting layer (HTL) -   109 Light-Emitting layer (LEL) -   111 Electron-Transporting layer (ETL) -   113 Cathode 

1. An OLED device comprising a light-emitting layer containing a light emitting bis(azinyl)methene boron complex compound comprising a complex system of at least five fused rings and bearing, on at least one ring carbon or nitrogen, a substituent sufficient to provide a wavelength of maximum emission of less than 520 nm as measured at a concentration of <10⁻³M in ethyl acetate solvent.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the bis(azinyl)methene boron complex compound is a polymer.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the layer comprises a host and a bis(azinyl)methene boron complex compound dopant where the dopant is present in an amount of up to 10 wt % of the host.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein the dopant is present in an amount of 0.1-5 wt % of the host.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the boron complex compound includes a bis(pyridinyl)methene boron complex group.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the boron complex compound includes a bis(quinolinyl)methene boron complex group.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the host comprises a chelated oxinoid compound or an anthracene compound.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein the host comprises a chelated oxinoid compound.
 9. The device of claim 8 wherein the host comprises tris(8-quinolinolato)aluminum (III)
 10. The device of claim 7 wherein the host comprises an anthracene compound.
 11. The device of claim 10 wherein the host comprises a 9,10-di-(2-naphthyl)anthracene compound.
 12. The device of claim 10 wherein the host comprises a 2-tert-butyl-9,10-di-(2-naphthyl)anthracene compound.
 13. The device of claim 1 wherein the substituents provide a reduced loss of initial luminance compared to the device containing no bis(azinyl)methane boron complex compound.
 14. The device of claim 1 wherein the wavelength of maximum emission in EtOAc is less than 515 nm.
 15. The device of claim 14 wherein the wavelength of maximum absorption is less than 510 nm.
 16. The device of claim 1 wherein the bis(azinyl)methane boron complex compound comprises a ring system of five or six fused rings.
 17. The device of claim 1 wherein the bis(azinyl)methane boron complex compound comprises a ring system of five fused rings.
 18. The device of claim 17 wherein one or more of the fused rings are aromatic.
 19. An OLED device comprising a light-emitting layer containing a light emitting bis(azinyl)methene boron complex compound represented by Formula (1):

wherein A and A′ represent independent azine ring group systems corresponding to 6-membered aromatic ring systems containing at least one nitrogen; each X^(a) and X^(b) is an independently selected substituent, two of which may join to form a fused ring to A or A′ which may include further fused ring substitution; m and n are independently 0 to 4; Y is H or a substituent; Z^(a) and Z^(b) are independently selected substituents; provided that 1, 2, 3, 4, 1′, 2′, 3′, and 4′ are independently selected as either carbon or nitrogen atoms; and provided that the selection of each X^(a) and X^(b), including further substitution, results in a fused ring system of at least 5 fused rings; and provided further that there is at least one substituent on the fused ring system sufficient to provide a wavelength of maximum emission of less than 520 nm at a concentration of <10⁻³M in EtOAc.
 20. The device of claim 19 wherein 1, 2, 3, 4, 1′, 2′, 3′, and 4′ are all carbon atoms.
 21. The device of claim 19 wherein at least one of ring A or A′ contains substituents joined to form a fused ring.
 22. The device of claim 19 wherein both ring A and A′ contain substituents joined to form a fused ring.
 23. The device of claim 19 wherein there is present at least one X^(a) or X^(b) group selected from the group consisting of halo and alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, alkylthio, arylthio, sulfamoyl (—NRSO₂R′), acetamido (—NRCOR′), amino, and aryloxy groups.
 24. The device of claim 19 wherein at least one of Z^(a) and Z^(b) are independently selected from the group consisting of fluoro and alkyl, aryl, alkoxy and aryloxy groups.
 25. The device of claim 24 wherein at least one of Z^(a) and Z^(b) are F.
 26. The device of claim 19 wherein the layer comprises a host and dopant where the dopant is present in an amount of up to 10 wt % of the host.
 27. The device of claim 26 wherein the dopant is present in an amount of 0.1-5.0 wt % of the host.
 28. The device of claim 19 wherein the wavelength of maximum emission is less than 515 nm.
 29. The device of claim 28 wherein the wavelength of maximum emission is less than 510 nm.
 30. The device of claim 19 wherein the bis(azinyl)methane boron complex compound comprises a ring system of five or six fused rings.
 31. The device of claim 19 wherein the bis(azinyl)methane boron complex compound comprises a ring system of five fused rings.
 32. The device of claim 19 wherein Y is cyano, trifluoromethyl, fluoro, alkylsulfonyl, nitro, or sulfonamido (SO₂NRR′).
 33. The device of claim 19 wherein Y is cyano.
 34. The device of claim 19 wherein Y is trifluoromethyl.
 35. The device of claim 1 wherein the boron complex compound is selected from the following.


36. The device of claim 1 wherein the boron compound is selected from the following.


37. A light emitting device containing the OLED device of claim
 1. 38. A method of emitting light comprising subjecting the device of claim 1 to an applied voltage.
 39. A bis(azinyl)methene boron complex compound represented by Formula (1):

wherein A and A′ represent independent azine ring group systems corresponding to 6-membered aromatic ring systems containing at least one nitrogen; each X^(a) and X^(b) is an independently selected substituent, two of which may join to form a fused ring to A or A′, and which may include further fused ring substitution; m and n are independently 0 to 4; Y is H or a substituent; Z^(a) and Z^(b) are independently selected substituents; 1, 2, 3, 4, 1′, 2′, 3′, and 4′ are independently selected as either carbon or nitrogen atoms; provided that the selection of each X^(a) and X^(b), including further substitution, results in a fused ring system of at least 5 fused rings; and provided further that there is at least one substituent on the fused ring system sufficient to provide a wavelength of maximum emission of less than 520 nm at a concentration of <10⁻³M in an aprotic solvent.
 40. The compound of claim 39 wherein the boron complex compound is selected from the following.


41. The device of claim 1 wherein the light emitting layer comprises two hosts of at least 5 wt % of the layer of each, one being a chelated oxinoid, and the other an anthracene compound.
 42. The device of claim 41 wherein the light emitting layer comprises two hosts of at least 5 wt % of the layer of each, one being represented by the formula:

wherein: M represents a metal; n is an integer of from 1 to 4; and Z independently in each occurrence represents the atoms completing a nucleus having at least two fused aromatic rings.
 43. The device of claim 41 wherein the anthracene host is a 2-tert-butyl-9,10-di-(2-naphthyl)anthracene (TBADN).
 44. The device of claim 41 wherein the anthracene is present in an amount of greater than 50 wt % of the layer.
 45. The device of claim 41 wherein the anthracene is present in an amount of greater than 75 wt % of the layer.
 46. A bis(azinyl)methene boron complex compound represented by Formula (2):

wherein each Xa, Xb, Xc, and Xd is an independently selected substituent, two of which may join to form a fused ring and which may include further fused ring substitution; m and n are independently 0 to 2; o and p are independently 0 to 4; Y is H or a substituent; Za and Zb are independently selected substituents; and provided further that there is at least one substituent on the fused ring system sufficient to provide a wavelength of maximum emission of less than 520 nm at a concentration of <10⁻³M in an aprotic solvent.
 47. A bis(azinyl)methene boron complex compound represented by Formula (3):

wherein each Xa, Xb, Xc, and Xd is an independently selected substituent, two of which may join to form a fused ring and which may include further fused ring substitution; m and p are independently 0 to 2; n and o are independently 0 to 4; Y is H or a substituent; Za and Zb are independently selected substituents; and provided further that there is at least one substituent on the fused ring system sufficient to provide a wavelength of maximum emission of less than 520 nm at a concentration of 10⁻³M in an aprotic solvent. 